Merseyside’s new Police and Crime Commissioner, Labour’s Jane Ke

Labour’s Jane Kennedy thanked the people of Merseyside for electing her as their first Police and Crime Commissioner as she gained more than 56% of the votes.

Jane, who will be sworn in to the new post next Thursday, said she was delighted to have been chosen by the people of Merseyside to take on the new role.

In her victory speech, Jane said: “This is an election that probably none of us wanted, but I do want to thank all those that have voted, despite the low turnout. I appreciate their commitment and their involvement in democracy in what is an important election.

“I make this one promise. That is to work very hard, to do the best job for Merseyside, for the police and for the communities that they serve.”

Merseyside’s Police and Crime Commissioner elect said the result sent a clear message back to the Tories and Lib Dems in Government.

Speaking after the count, Jane said: “What is clear from these results is that people right across Merseyside are not happy with the policies of the Tory-Lib Dem Government.

“The poor turnout itself, and the ultimate result, is a clear statement from the people of Merseyside, and wider afield in the UK, to David Cameron and Nick Clegg.

“It would be foolish for them not to hear this as a warning sign from the electorate.

“They ignored the warning from the Labour party about their mismanagement of this entire election process. They refused to listen to our warnings about calling an election for the middle of November. They refused to listen to our warnings when they decided to deny the candidates the opportunity to communicate directly with the electorate.

“The election cost £100million, money which hard pressed councils, like those on Merseyside where Liverpool for example is facing a 50% cut in it’s budget over the next four years, can ill afford. That’s enough money to fund 3,000 front line police officers. All this for an election which voters have turned their backs on. What a shambles this government is.

“Meanwhile here on Merseyside we have had 600 police officers cut from the ranks already as the Tories and Lib Dems have slashed 20% from the force’s budget. And we fully expect that to go up next month when George Osborne makes his autumn statement.”

Jane is now preparing to start work.

Jane said: “Now that I am elected, I will be hitting the ground running. I hope to meet the officers of Merseyside police and am already planning to go out on patrol so I can fully understand the challenges which they face day in and day out.

“And I want to start the process of examining the whole system and to call to account all the agencies who have a part to play in reducing crime.

“I strongly believe that if you can forge strong, real partnerships between agencies like the youth justice service, the probation service, the prison service, the voluntary and community sector, the faith sector and if you can get them all working together in a more co-ordinated way, you can maintain the very good services that exist across Merseyside despite the tough challenges which we face.”